BBC Trust announces review of main four BBC channels

The BBC Trust has today started what it describes as its "most ambitious service licence review of BBC Television it
has undertaken" as it looks at how well BBC One, Two, Three and Four are
performing.

In conjunction with the review, a three month public consultation also starts today, with the BBC Trust inviting audiences to get
in touch with their views on the four channels.This is the Trust's
second review of BBC Television but the first to look at these four channels
together; BBC One, Two and Four were reviewed in 2010 and BBC Three in 2009 as
part of the Trust's review into younger audiences.

According to the BBC Trust,
the Television review will assess "whether each of the four BBC channels
is fulfilling the commitments defined in its service licence which set out
what the public can expect of BBC services. It will consider whether any
changes to the current licences are needed along with each service's future
direction."

"The review will
follow up the Executive's progress on the Trust's previous recommendations
for the channels and examine the extent to which the BBC television services
provide distinctive programmes which all audiences around the United Kingdom
watch and enjoy. As part of this the Trust will consider how well the
services are adapting to meet changing audience expectations and viewing patterns
primarily in response to technological developments."

► Public
consultation

Viewers
are asked to provide their option on the quality and range of programmes and
types of programme on:

BBC One,

BBC Two,

BBC
Three

BBC
Four

And how
the BBC channels perform collectively (including coverage of UK wide issues
and sports events).

This review does not include news and current affairs; a separate review is already underway.

The review will also consider whether each
channel is delivering high quality content and if each channel is delivering value for money.

BBC Trustee David Liddiment said: "The licence fee
places a great obligation on the BBC to be bolder than other broadcasters in
delivering ambitious and distinctive programmes for its audiences. This review
will allow us to make sure that the BBC is doing just that.

"We want to hear from the millions of viewers
who watch the channels to tell us what they think."